Members of the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians and
others concerned about out-of-control overtime and contract
violations; Psych Techs wearing red at other state hospitals,
developmental centers and correctional facilities to show solidarity.

California Association of Psychiatric Technicians members working at
Metropolitan State Hospital are taking a stand and hitting the
streets May 8 to protest MSH’s unsafe staffing policies and contract
violations.

Misguided February staffing-policy changes have resulted in massive
overtime increases for the facility’s 391 CAPT members: Involuntary
overtime numbers for January 2014 -- before a new overtime policy was
implemented for this group of direct-care nursing professionals -- were
1,891 hours; for February 2014, 4,740 hours; and for March 2014, 3,769
hours.

When Psychiatric Technicians asked to meet with management about safety
and staffing concerns at the state forensic hospital -- plus the union’s
10 related grievances filed on numerous forced 16-hour shifts --
management defied union requests and state labor law by refusing to meet
as well as by openly violating further contract rights.

"We’ve tried to come up with solutions, but management responds with the
most draconian measures possible," said CAPT Metropolitan Chapter
President Eric Soto, PT. "We work with some of the most challenging
individuals and always need to be on our A-game, but this out-of-control
overtime is exhausting and unsafe.”

CAPT’s board of directors – which includes Psychiatric Technicians from
across California -- also voted to issue a formal “red-tag” sanction
against Metropolitan State Hospital. The sanction warns interested
parties from applying for jobs at the facility and blasts MSH for
contract violations that will not be tolerated. Psych Techs at other
state facilities will be wearing red May 8 in solidarity with their
Metropolitan coworkers who provide therapeutic, rehabilitative and
nursing services to Californians with severe mental illnesses.

The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians is the elected
union representative for 7,000 state-employed Psychiatric Technicians
and related workers who provide compassionate, professional mental
health and developmental services for the Californians in our care. CAPT
also is the professional organization for all of California’s 14,000
licensed Psychiatric Technicians.